“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” -John 6:9-10
Dear members and friends,
Many people seem to wish for a miracle. Some may even insist, “If I were to have a miracle in my life, I would believe in God.” In a way, people seem to expect a miracle to be like one of the events found in Gospels or even bigger. The English word “miracle” is defined as “a surprising and welcome event that is not explicable by natural or scientific laws and is therefore considered to be the work of a divine agency.” The origin of the word miracle is from the Latin word mirus, which means wonderful. Interestingly, the Hebrew word that is translated as wonder or miracle is pala, which literally means “to be surpassing or extraordinary.” Consequently, it may be assumed that ancient people felt an amazing event that surpassed their ability or comprehension was an act of God. However, those events were considered wonders and marvels because of their randomness and extraordinary nature.
When a modern person asks for a miracle, they seem to have a specific object or event in mind. And despite the variety of types and kinds of miracles they wish for, there seems to be one common denominator: they all desire that it happens in a way they expect. What this means is that people do not desire to find the true God who is in the spiritual realm, but instead find a special, divine power and command it for their own wishes and desires. This is perhaps why Jesus answered, “An evil and adulterous generation asks for a sign, but no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah.” (Matthew 12:39)
My brothers and sisters in God, let us take a moment this week and enter into a deep prayer asking God to help us to be free of our own shortcomings and earthly desires. Perhaps then we would be enabled to see and embrace the truth that everything that exists around us is a miracle, meaning wonderful and marvelous beings and things.
Blessings, Rev. Junchol Lee